Only one in four firms expect their staff to be in the office full time in the coming years.
This is according to a survey of more than 1,000 businesses by the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) and technology firm Cisco.
In recent weeks, several heavyweights in the City – including Lloyds and Nationwide – have ordered staff make a return to their desks.
But the BCC’s research has found that less than 30 per cent of companies expect staff will be spending all their time in the office over the next five years.
The data shows that hybrid working – when workers split their time between working in the office and from home – is ‘now part of the fabric of the modern workplace’, according to BCC policy director Jane Gratton.
All change: The data shows that hybrid working – when workers split their time between working in the office and from home – is ‘now part of the fabric of the modern workplace’
The suggestion that hybrid working could be here to stay will come as gloomy news for bosses who are trying to encourage their staff back after Covid.
Earlier this month, Nationwide Building Society said its 13,000 workers must be in the office at least two days a week, or 40 per cent of their time.
And US bank Citi said that staff who do not come into the office at least three days a week could have their bonuses docked.
Lloyds Banking Group also said earlier this year that it was monitoring the swipe cards of its 40,000 staff who would normally work in the office – they are expected to come in at least two days a week.
Even Zoom, the video calling company which cashed in on the Covid lockdown when workers had to stay at home, this summer demanded staff make a return to the office for part of the week.
